Jet engine valve construction



Sept. 4, 1951 w. T. KNIGHT JET ENGINE VALVE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 I u ventor Wesley Tracy Knight Sept. 4, 1951 w; T. KNIGHT JET ENGINE VALVE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 Inventor Wes/e y '7mcy Km'gh r Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JET ENGINE VALVE CONSTRUCTION Wesley Tracy Knight, Ogden, Utah Application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,518

Claims. (Cl. 6035.6)

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a jet engine valve construction and more generally pertains to a valve construction for supplying and exhausting combustion constituents to and from a combustion chamber, wherein the valve mechanism is automatically operable in response to predetermined change Within the combustion chamber.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a valve construction for combustion chambers which .will be automatically operable in response to pressure variations of a predetermined magnitude within said chamber, and which shall be of a simple dependable construction.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of a combustion chamber for jet engines and the like having an air and fuel inlet at its forward end and an exhaust discharge passage for a propulsion jet or the like at its rear end, together with an inlet and exhaust valve for controlling the inlet and exhaust passages, and wherein the valves are interconnected for automatic operation in response to predetermined pressure variations within the combustion chamber.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a cylindrical combustion chamber having oppositely disposed inlet and exhaust ports having valve seats, together with o a rigidly connected exhaust valve for controlling the exhaust port and a piston disposed at the inlet port for operating the exhaust valve, and wherein the inlet valve port is formed in the piston and the inlet valve is slidably carried by said piston.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, the combustion chamber being shown in central longitudinal sectional view, of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the rear end of the device;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the combustion chamber portion of the device, parts being broken away, and particularly showing the construction of the inlet and exhaust valve and associating mechenisnisf Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially by the plane of the section line 4--4 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 5 is an'end elevational View taken from the right of Figure 3.

The present invention relates to a valving mechanism for a combustion chamber wherein a continuous stream of air at a more or less constant velocity is available for introduction by a ram effect into the front or inlet end of the combustion chamber, together with means for supplying fuel to form a combustible mixture within the chamber, and accompanied by valving mechanism for retaining the combustible mixture within the chamber while the same is exploded, and is further characterized by a differential pressure area construction for opening the exhaust valve after the combustion pressure has attained a predetermined value, to prevent the further ingress of a combustible mixture while the exhaust constituents are being discharged from the chamber. The ignition system which is particularly adapted for a combustion chamber of this character is fully described and set forth in my co-pending application Ser. No. 59,517, filed November 12, 1948, 01 Ignition System for Jet Engine.

It is to be understood that the combustion chamber and valve construction set forth hereinafter is particularly adapted for use with jet engines, for rocket propulsion and as an auxiliary impulse device which may be employed in various other environments such as upon the edge of helicopter blades or the like for assisting in imparting or in constituting the entire propulsive thrust thereto. The invention is particularly characterized by its ability to produce a substantially continuous stream of exhaust products of pulsating or varying pressure from a substantially constant pressure supply of air and fuel constituents, and whereby the valving action is obtained and timed solely by the pulsations of combustion pressure within the combustion chamber.

Referring now more specifically to the accom= panying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the variou views, it will be seen that the numeral I0 designates generally a hollow body of any suitable character and'which is preferably provided with a cylin= drical bore l2 which opens at the forward end thereof, and which serves to provide a combustion chamber Hi. At its closed rear end, the body [0 is provided with axially disposed exhaust port It having an exhaust valve seat l8 therein, and

curs, an ignition impulse is applied to the igniter 16, whereby the next ensuing combustible charge within the combustion chamber is again ignited. When the pressure from the orifice 22 has dropped to a predetermined value, the weight of the plate 98 again causes the trip lever 82 to pivot downwardly to the position shown in Figure 1 and the device is ready for its next operation.

Obviously, the inertia and mass of the lever 82 and plate 90 may be so chosen and selected that the igniter will be operated in properly timed synchronization with the attainment of an explosive charge within the combustion chamber.

Referring now to Figure 3 it will be seen that after the exhaust of a preivous explosion has occurred, the force exerted by the incoming charge of air through the venturi 38 will move the piston 42 with the valve 50 being closed by the tension of the spring 68, and'thereby through the stem 52 will likewise move the exhaust valve 28 towards the right whereby the exhaust valve will be seated on its valve seat Hi, to close the discharge end of the combustion chamber. Further pressure of the incoming air and fuel will now open the inlet valve 50, and charge the combustion chamber l4. When the pressure therein has been substantially equalized with the pressure of the incoming charge through the venturi 38, the spring 68 will then enclose the inelt valve 50 whereby the interior of the combustion chamber will be sealed, and ignition will be produced therein by the previously described ignition system. When the pressure of the combustion rises to a predetermined value, this pressure acting upon the differential areas of the piston 42 and. the exhaust valve 28 will move the piston and exhaust valve assembly towards the left, until the piston seats against the end of the venturi 36, thereby withdrawing the exhaust valve from its seat.

When the pressure within the combustion chamber M has dropped to a predetermined value by reason of the escape of the combustion products through the passage 20 and orifice or jet 22, the constant pressure of the incoming charge will again move the piston assembly 42 and the rigidly attached exhaust valve 28 to the right, thereby closing the exhaust valve, and repeating the cycle of operation. Thus a series of sequential combustion charges are enclosed and fired within a combustion chamber for producing a pulsating exhaust pressure discharged through the passage 29 and the exhaust nozzle or jet 22.

It should be noted that the relatively constant pressure of the incoming air component of the combustible charge serves to inspirate or draw in fuel from the fuel nozzle 40 and to mix this fuel to provide a combustible mixture during and prior to its introduction to the combustion chamber it. inlet and exhaust valves are provided with spindles which are axially guided to insure even seating of the valves upon their valve seats, and that the inlet valve is opened and closed substantially by the difference in pressure of .the incoming charge with the pressure prevailing within the combustion chamber, while the exhaust valve is closed by the pressure of the incoming charge against the piston 42, and opened by the pressure difference arising from the differences in area of the piston and the exhaust valve.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be It will be further noted that both the readily understood and further explanation of the same is believed to be unnecessary. However;

it is evident that the principles of the invention may be realized and carried out by a great variety of structures and may'beutilized in various environments, and accordingly it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and described the invention, what is claimed as new is a follows:

1. A jet engine inclulding a combustion chamber having a combustible mixture inlet: port anda combustion products outlet port at its opposite ends, a valve seatfor each port and a valve'for each seat; each valve being yieldingly urged upon its seat by the fluid pressure within the combustion chamber, means responsive to the pressure variations within said chamber for operating aid valves, said last meansincluding a. piston slidable in said combustion chamber and connected to the outlet valve, the piston being of greater area than said outlet valve for forcing the latter from its seat when the combustion chamber pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

2. A- valve construction for a unifiow combustion chamber having an inlet passage, an inlet port communicating with said inlet passageand having an inlet valve seat, an outlet passage having an outlet port, valves controlling each of said ports, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said inlet port, means responsive to predetermined pressure variations in said chamber for operating said valves, said last means including a piston slidable in said combustion chamber and connected to the outlet valve, thepiston being of greater area than said outlet valve for forcing the latter from its seat when the combustion chamber pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

3. A jet engine including a combustion chamber having a combustible mixture inlet port and a combustion products outlet port at its opposite ends, a valve seat for each port and a valve forcing the latter from its seat when the combustion chamber pressure exceeds a predetermined value, said piston including said inlet valve seat and said inlet valve.

4. A valve construction for a unifiow combustion chamber having an inlet passage, an inlet port communicating with aid inlet passage and having an inlet valve seat, an outlet passage having an outlet port, valves controlling each of said ports, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said inlet port, means responsive to predetermined pressure variations in said chamber for operating said valves, saidlastmeans including a piston slidable in said combustion chamber and connected to the outlet valve, the piston being of greater area than said outlet valve for forcing the latter from its seat when the combustion chamber pressure exceeds a. predetermined value, said piston including said inlet valve eat and said inlet valve.

5. A jet engine including a combustion chamustion qhembsr me ass ag M ,e eeedsfa predeterm e va ue. said. s na -san n s i l valve s a ands-sai 91s .Ya & d olile v lve.- hav a s m-i fis i 9ns d sal1 f said h i -v sai s em e! eq-me i s p on y Qre i isa s embsa s inlet. valve ha p nd s idah y gu ded; sa d he e an es lien me ns ut iiifie sis inlet val e to ard ei a v qn ttuqtiqn I91 a-linlii w 9 bi si n Qh mber hav ng; a passag an: inret n r m ni atin vim sa d. nlet, p ssagei id vha n a inlet valve se an; bu e p 25- sagsrhaving a a l-12 st P9 62.valveseqniro l nseach of said ports, means for supplying? qqme nstimemixtiw; t sa diiale z'sqrtnmea s iegns vew xeiie rmised pressure. v eiiqn a qiqhamhe 19 osesetins ai. a, mean in ludin a; nistqn .slisia le sai PQHA- busii n qhambfir and, waneq e i m l s e i ist ve. the iston. b nsq s aiQn-a eain n sa d outletvalve for i g the 1 .y i site; fitm ts seat nenith combustlgni .QhWfiJQQ-HIWQQKQ exse s a, pieqe esm nsq value s d ni exiisqluq ns s id; n etvalve eat 1 351 sa rqim fi 1st valv h vin va iemest srlqas i udina ly isaid chexnben, s id si nna g R ZQQ W 51. nis n a uide 29 3; said stain said: inktva y ayi a spin le slis ab v: was sa d h se and resilient means urging saidni getvalve-{ s. amssits seafia 7- A va ve qenst iuq ip a. 9 mm?- qnq em sr h a ness m s age. 213 1 1155 ort. mmsniqei ns .w h, is e Pa s e nd. h y n m. inlet aly i seat. alxwtls Pa s ge. avi san m s? .laqr valv s 2 mm aid wa t fqr sup yin 7 x ure, t said, inle ort meansrlie n-o s w red i xm rzre sudr Y tl s i said shambr t r Q in s d. alve k w id a m ansin lud n a stes s iq bl -in s cembi i chamber and qonnee te dftg the putlei; valve, fine smn b n of eate a t ilia sai'cl ail fi v e Iqwie t iteri qm s s i sflih qqnh bustion chamber pressure exeeedsia firedetefn mined value, said' iiistenl including said inlet valve seat and said inlet. vailvQ'lsaidToufiit valve having a spindle on the Opposite side f i'em said. stem, a guide for slidably'i'ieeeiving said 'eutlet valve spindle.

8. A valve construc tion fer a unifiovv combus ti n chamber having a n inlet passage, aninlep rt m icat wi h, sa let ass and ha n a nl v l sea -e out e pas havms. an out e q vwel esqeqtrq is sa-91 9f. id

Pes s m an il s p iin a. mbus ib emlw fe n d 'ii fi r' gm nes v wpre-L te d r s ur' i a fp s i ch mben' fer"bperaigingisaidfvalves, said last n e'ans'inclu ing a piston" slidalqlle in said combustion eha' bei andcpnne cted tb the outlet valve, thef'pjis being 9f lreacefarea than said Outlet, valve f f oremgj w Iaiiter from it'sfs'e'at when the-0pm bu'st'idn bhainbe'r pressure exceeds a prede mined value, said piston including said inlet v'aivews 'eat ands aid inlet valv'e said outletvalva i 5 1 eii ehd fi i d3. 3 5 Q f eha If, vsaid'steini75eing' s eeu i ed 'tO, said piston, 2L ev bbfe said stem, said inlet valvehavingl a spindle" slidably 'g fi ittled in said he an r sili nt mean u s a dvn t a ve a iiisfseat, ..s' "d Outlet "valvhavingf'a spin 1e 0 e-o e id fr m; aid wm. iu d 10 s ab y t .i n sfii l v Q i i alY p dl 91 II; a jet ngine a bodyhavir ig a 'cyiindiieaI i isti ni i m e h rei 'I i al' tuniat'lthe foiwardend 'fs aid body "and an egg}; as? Orifi e in t r ar 'bf Said. div ei nir iiih said'chamber, meanefor supplying" fuel s id venturit'g form a combustible? 'mx' tuiefa pisten'slidable in said chamber and fgfageable against saidventuri, an exhaust" valve cpntrelliiig flew tjnl' ough' said'oiific'eand rigidly" eejnneetd td said piston for mqvement'ther'evv y andi ni'e't part ezitending thr'ouh said pist onj an inli .vaive sli'iiabiy afried bysaid pisto n f6?" centl q [ng' said inlet poi t, said inlet valve being; g lg-sed and opening byffi'div thlotfgh'saigif vent'ui'i "said pis'tozifbeiii'g bf greater area than aidfi ma s alve h reb h r Will' be. 0 "-ned' iiysaid 'pispon when the pressure 'witliin saidlcilainbr exceeds a predetermined value." 1E3, "st" engine iribludifi'Q'd'Cprri'b chamber avin"g a, eombustible mixture 1mg: port; ands, .ciaInbustion prqdgcrs 'eutl 'e't per; at its hp some ends, v s' a 'i ej ff e ja valve idr'each'seat, means responsive tothe pres; surenva iati-ons in said chamber for opei aing said valves, said i ajs'fmeans including aic'ii on slidable im said n m er a nd'coi'ine'cted t6 exhaust valve, thepiston bein'gatuated bia r i r fie id b j sur in a d u j lchamber t'd'fcir'ee' the outlet valve 'fr """itsseafi; said piston ine ludii igwsaid inlet Valve 's'efaltfafid a d im hv l e s, .i V s is WEsL Y TRACY K IqgT;

REFERENCES ITED The following references are of i epqrd i i-she, l Q. hi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

